A trial of etanercept, a recombinant tumor necrosis factor receptor:Fc fusion protein, patients with rheumatoid arthritis receiving methotrexate

Etanercept in addition to methotrexate may be more effective than methotrexate alone in treating rheumatoid arthritis. Etanercept is a drug that inhibits the action of tumor necrosis factor, which causes inflammation. Researchers randomly assigned 89 rheumatoid arthritis patients to take methotrexate alone or methotrexate and etanercept. After six months of treatment, 71% of the patients taking both drugs experienced a 20% improvement in function and 39% experienced a 50% improvement. The percentages of people taking methotrexate alone who achieved these results were 27% and 3%, respectively.